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Archaeology

Students may emphasize archaeology both at the undergraduate and graduate levels by selecting courses offered in a number of departments, especially the Departments of Anthropology, Art History, Visual Art, and Theory; and Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies. In each case, a major or honours program can be developed with an emphasis on archaeology. UBC is strong in areas complementary to archaeology, such as ethnology, ecology, geography, geology, metallurgy, biology, and quantitative methods; and students are urged to begin courses in these fields at an early date. They are encouraged to acquire a broad knowledge of different geographical areas, techniques, and theories. Several possibilities are listed below in and Courses Ancillary to Archaeology and in Courses.

Archaeology can be pursued as a minor in anthropological archaeology. Archaeology courses in the Department of Anthropology explore the archaeological past of B.C., subarctic Canada, Mesoamerica, eastern Asia, east Africa, and Europe while emphasizing current methods, theory, and practice of archaeological research. The program provides hands-on experience, through the direct study of ancient objects, in classes and labs, many of which take place in the Laboratory of Archaeology located in the Museum of Anthropology. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in archaeology field training courses, both locally and abroad.

Classical Archaeology in the Department of Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies covers the art and cultural history of the Greek and Roman world from the Bronze Age to the founding of Constantinople. Though primarily descriptive, courses include a certain amount of archaeological material and method, and discussion of relevant social and historical processes. Some attention is paid also to ancillary disciplines such as epigraphy and numismatics. Field experience is acquired through a summer practicum on a classical site in Europe. There is a small teaching collection in the Museum of Anthropology.

The Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences offers several courses that may prove of value to the student of archaeology, particularly in the fields of mineralogy and the analysis of materials.

The Department of Art History, Visual Art, and Theory offers a number of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level that depend to a greater or lesser extent on material deriving from archaeological work; these courses are concerned with archaeological interpretations and they may be of great value to students specializing in archaeology.

The Department of Geography offers courses of value to the archaeologist in a variety of fields. Students can undertake combined programs with Anthropology in the fields of subsistence and cultural ecology.

The Department of History offers various courses on cultural history relevant to those working in archaeology. The Department also offers an introductory course in historical archaeology that concentrates on material culture in the period of written records, with an emphasis on North America.

Courses in biology, botany, and zoology that deal with the basic structures and functions of the plants and animals found in archaeological sites are also listed below.